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NFT: San Francisco Trip Rent a Car?

Essex : 3/23/2023 10:09 am
Do you need to rent a car. Most of time will be around SF, but I would like to venture a bit to Oakland and Berkley to look around.
We’ve rented cars to get in and out  
Shecky : 3/23/2023 10:11 am : link
But never kept one while in SF
Easy to get around the city
MUCH easier to Uber, zip car or Kyte a car for the day if necessary.
Doesn't sound like it.  
dannysection 313 : 3/23/2023 10:22 am : link
The trip in from SFO is really easy by Bart and it's only about 20 miles, so don't pay for a tank of gas if you do end up renting.

Once in Berkley and Oakland, you'll need to take an Uber, so I guess it depends on what type of deal you can get on a rental car.

If you do end up renting, make sure to get an on-site, at the airport, rental....the off-site places are a pain to get to.

If you have time there's a wonderful bus tour to Muir Woods, then to Sausalito to hang out and have lunch. You can then take the fairy across the bay to the Presidio area.

Enjoy SF! Amazing city despite the crazy homeless situation.
you might need a boat  
islander1 : 3/23/2023 10:25 am : link
with the state of weather in California these days.
Depends on where your hotel is  
Vanzetti : 3/23/2023 10:33 am : link
But in general, you can takeBart from airport and to East Bay. Then take Ubers everywhere else.

A car is nice if you want to drive down to Ocean Beach or in the Berkeley Hills but you have to be aware that the traffic is awful between 3 and 7 and early in the morning.

Bring rain boots  
ArcadeSlumlord : 3/23/2023 10:47 am : link
loots of human feces and needles all over the streets.
Rent a car  
kcgiants : 3/23/2023 10:48 am : link
I use to go there in the 1990s and early 2000s to visit my sister and her family. She always lent me her car which was a blissing. SF has lots of hills and if you're with small kids it'll be rough on them. Also, I would go to Monterey, Somona Valley Wine country, Oakland, Berkley, Sausalito, etc. It all depends on how long you plan to be there and if you're with small children. There are plenty of things to do in SF itself which don't require a car but I liked to venture outside of SF. SF is a lovely place with plenty to do. Good luck
RE: Doesn't sound like it.  
Essex : 3/23/2023 10:49 am : link
In comment 16073389 dannysection 313 said:
Quote:
The trip in from SFO is really easy by Bart and it's only about 20 miles, so don't pay for a tank of gas if you do end up renting.

Once in Berkley and Oakland, you'll need to take an Uber, so I guess it depends on what type of deal you can get on a rental car.

If you do end up renting, make sure to get an on-site, at the airport, rental....the off-site places are a pain to get to.

If you have time there's a wonderful bus tour to Muir Woods, then to Sausalito to hang out and have lunch. You can then take the fairy across the bay to the Presidio area.

Enjoy SF! Amazing city despite the crazy homeless situation.


I just kind of want to take my kids (28) to see Berkely campus. Any suggestions on where to stay. Since this is not going to be a hotel vacation, just clean and safe is most important. Last minute pivot on Spring Break as it was looking like for work reasons we were not going to be able to get away, but now we can.
RE: RE: Doesn't sound like it.  
Jim in Fairfax : 3/23/2023 11:01 am : link
In comment 16073427 Essex said:
Quote:

I just kind of want to take my kids (28) to see Berkely campus. Any suggestions on where to stay. Since this is not going to be a hotel vacation, just clean and safe is most important. Last minute pivot on Spring Break as it was looking like for work reasons we were not going to be able to get away, but now we can.

If you’ve got 28 kids, you’re gonna need a bus!
RE: RE: RE: Doesn't sound like it.  
Essex : 3/23/2023 11:18 am : link
In comment 16073445 Jim in Fairfax said:
Quote:
In comment 16073427 Essex said:


Quote:



I just kind of want to take my kids (28) to see Berkely campus. Any suggestions on where to stay. Since this is not going to be a hotel vacation, just clean and safe is most important. Last minute pivot on Spring Break as it was looking like for work reasons we were not going to be able to get away, but now we can.


If you’ve got 28 kids, you’re gonna need a bus!


Lol-I meant 12 and 8
You don't need a rental car in SF.  
Ron from Ninerland : 3/23/2023 11:29 am : link
For SF, Oakland and Berkeley transit and Uber/Lyft are plentiful. One of the good things about visiting the area is the variety of Cable cars, Street Cars( Trollies ), Trains and Ferries. If you do want to take a day trip somewhere, assuming they're not flooded or snowed in, there are daily rentals available.
Cars are a big headache and parking at hotels costs money too  
MeanBunny : 3/23/2023 11:38 am : link
It does help to have a car if you want to drive to Marin but for most East Bay and SF stuff UBER/LYFT is pretty convenient. It's a bit slow to take MUNI to golden gate park but not terrible. BART takes about 40 min to Berkeley and runs until midnight. There are Ac transit Transbay buses too to Berkeley but limited. For SF it's a 7mile by 7 mile city so as a tourist I would avoid renting and the hills are a bitch even in an automatic.
Parking is hard and the crime is out of control. If you leave anything in a car it's gonna be stolen guaranteed.
I wouldn't rent a car for SF - it'd just be a headache  
Nitro : 3/23/2023 11:40 am : link
but I also would avoid public transportation, unless you want to explain why schizophrenics are doing heroin openly in the same train car as your children. Car break-ins are very common with rental cars targeted especially, in tourist areas.

Uber/Lyft to get around is your best bet.
Berkeley stay  
MeanBunny : 3/23/2023 11:42 am : link
There are lots of AirBnBs and you can choose a nice craftsman home near campus. The Shattuck Hotel is pretty cool and has nice bar and about 1/4 mile from bottom of campus. There is a new hotel a Radisson Residence Inn very close and I would suggest those 2 for proximity. Anything on University Ave is trash
You definitely  
Mike in Marin : 3/23/2023 12:17 pm : link
do not need to rent a car unless you plan to do a lot of driving outside the city, e.g. wine country, beaches/coast. Berkeley is very close. If you do get one, reserve a parking spot at Muir Woods ahead of time, as it's the only way to go, unless you get dropped off or take a bus/bus tour.

Everything else is an Uber, etc. like downtown, the good neighborhoods, Alcatraz/Pier. As someone suggested, there is a ferry to Sausalito, which drops off right in town.

Have fun.
RE: I wouldn't rent a car for SF - it'd just be a headache  
Ron from Ninerland : 3/23/2023 1:16 pm : link
In comment 16073493 Nitro said:
Quote:
but I also would avoid public transportation, unless you want to explain why schizophrenics are doing heroin openly in the same train car as your children. Car break-ins are very common with rental cars targeted especially, in tourist areas.

Uber/Lyft to get around is your best bet.
That's LA, not SF. During the day you'll be OK on BART and MUNI metro.
You do not need to rent car when you visit SF/Bay Area.  
kdog77 : 3/23/2023 1:33 pm : link
it is way easier to take Uber/Lyft and there are plenty of them at SFO. If you want to sight-see, then I would recommend taking the Hop On Hop Off red buses for a day. It will hit most of the landmarks in SF without the hassle of figuring out MUNI. You can also go to Ferry Building and take quick trip to Tiburon or Sausalito on the ferries that run pretty regularly. Make sure to pack hoodie/jacket each day as the weather can vary greatly depending on your location. SOMA could be 80 and sunny, while the Sunset is 50 and foggy.
I've heard of people renting cars in San Francisco from Lyft  
Adam G in Big D : 3/23/2023 3:03 pm : link
for about $20/day.
RE: RE: I wouldn't rent a car for SF - it'd just be a headache  
Nitro : 3/23/2023 3:16 pm : link
In comment 16073647 Ron from Ninerland said:
Quote:
In comment 16073493 Nitro said:


Quote:


but I also would avoid public transportation, unless you want to explain why schizophrenics are doing heroin openly in the same train car as your children. Car break-ins are very common with rental cars targeted especially, in tourist areas.

Uber/Lyft to get around is your best bet.

That's LA, not SF. During the day you'll be OK on BART and MUNI metro.


I've lived in SF in the past few years. It's both.
RE: RE: Doesn't sound like it.  
dannysection 313 : 3/23/2023 3:17 pm : link
In comment 16073427 Essex said:
Quote:
In comment 16073389 dannysection 313 said:


Quote:


The trip in from SFO is really easy by Bart and it's only about 20 miles, so don't pay for a tank of gas if you do end up renting.

Once in Berkley and Oakland, you'll need to take an Uber, so I guess it depends on what type of deal you can get on a rental car.

If you do end up renting, make sure to get an on-site, at the airport, rental....the off-site places are a pain to get to.

If you have time there's a wonderful bus tour to Muir Woods, then to Sausalito to hang out and have lunch. You can then take the fairy across the bay to the Presidio area.

Enjoy SF! Amazing city despite the crazy homeless situation.



I just kind of want to take my kids (28) to see Berkely campus. Any suggestions on where to stay. Since this is not going to be a hotel vacation, just clean and safe is most important. Last minute pivot on Spring Break as it was looking like for work reasons we were not going to be able to get away, but now we can.


I don't know the hotels in Berkeley at all; I always stayed in San Fran when I traveled there for work. But, the hotels in SF are expensive, probably less so in Berkeley. And if you have a car, it's even more expensive and there is no street parking

As someone mentioned, the hop-on hop-off bus is a good way to see the sights, especially your first day as you get your bearings.....Haight-Ashbury, Coit Tower, City Hall, the Warf, etc, so much to see.

But, with a 12 and 8 year old, be careful with the homless, who tend to me crazier and more aggressive than in other cities; lots of mental health issues.

The safety of SF  
Ron from Ninerland : 3/23/2023 7:14 pm : link
Lets put this in perspective. Although I live in San Jose, I take BART up to SF once or twice a week. Yes there is a lot of homeless downtown, but as a tourist you're not going to be spending much time downtown. The Wharf, Coit tower, Nob Hill, The Ferry building, The Embarcadero, Golden Gate park or anyplace else a tourist is likely to go is fine. As for BART, you will encounter some "urban youths", but its no worse than New York. The MUNI Metro is actually pretty good. As for Oakland you do have to watch your step. Its a shame because because the area around Lake Merritt is nice but you do have to look over your shoulder there. The UC Berkeley Campus is fine.
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